Generation Zero issues “Big Ask” for next government

Thursday, 3 July 2014, 9:14 am
Press Release: Generation Zero

Generation Zero issues “Big Ask” for next government

Youth organisation Generation Zero has today released a report calling for a new law that will hold the Government to its promises to reduce carbon emissions and ensure New Zealand has a credible and integrated plan for climate change action.

The 20-page report, The Big Ask: One Key Step for Real Climate Action, explores how Denmark has developed and implemented its world-leading plan for fossil fuel independence by 2050, before examining the UK’s Climate Change Act and recommending that New Zealand join other countries that have implemented similar laws based on the UK model.

Co-author of the report, Paul Young, says a Climate Change Act would see binding emissions targets (or ‘carbon budgets’) signed into law, and an independent Climate Commission established to provide expert advice on climate policy and hold the Government accountable.

“By law, the Government would be required to produce evidence-based plans showing how it intends to meet its emissions reduction targets.”

“What this would mean is greater accountability, transparency, coherence and certainty around Government policy on climate change. It’s about taking some of the politics out of the issue and getting on with the job.”

The report includes a foreword by economist and author Gareth Morgan, who gives his “wholehearted support” to the idea, likening it to New Zealand’s move to make the Reserve Bank independent from Government in 1989.

Dr Morgan says: “We currently have a target for emissions reductions, and no apparent plan or realistic chance of getting there. This is just dishonest and deceitful.”

“If we aren’t serious about reducing emissions, let’s say so and drop our targets. If we are serious, lets get a plan and put in place a transparent way of holding ourselves to account for achieving it.”

The Big Ask is the follow up to an earlier report released in May, A Challenge to Our Leaders, which unveiled official projections showing that current Government policies will do virtually nothing to reduce emissions and would see New Zealand vastly overshooting its emissions targets.

“It’s time for New Zealand to wake up and start making genuine efforts to transition to a low carbon, clean energy economy.

“Action is picking up around the world and not only is it morally indefensible for New Zealand to continue delaying, we’re missing out on big opportunities that smart countries like Denmark are grabbing.”

“We look forward to hearing whether political parties will commit to supporting this simple but powerful legislative step in the next term of government.”

Generation Zero is inviting other organisations to formally endorse the Big Ask.

The Big Ask report can be downloaded from http://www.generationzero.org/TheBigAsk.

ENDS

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